With the advent of the California CHPS (Collaborate for High Performance Schools) standards, CRI (The Carpet and Rug Institute) revised their Green Label IAQ standard to match the low-emitting materials criteria used for CHPS and added adhesives to the program.

This standard, Green Label Plus, is the fourth revision in 16 years that enhances CRI's carpet testing standard, a measurement by which manufacturers continue to reduce product emissions.

GL+ is an independent testing program that meets and even exceeds the CHPS indoor environmental quality standards for low-emitting products used in commercial settings such as schools and office buildings. GL+ will be accepted in lieu of Section 01350, the CHPS low-emitting materials criteria for use in schools.

The more rigorous GL+ standard is a requirement for many projects and for the Environmental Quality Credit 4.3 in the USGBC's LEED building systems. All of our running-line carpet products and most of our custom products meet GL+.

FloorScore was developed by Scientific Certification Systems and the Resilient Floor Covering Institute (RFCI) to certify and identify hard-surface flooring products that meet the CHPS 01350 IAQ standard.

SCS and RFCI established the FloorScore program to provide third-party certification for hard-surface flooring products, and to provide a quick way to identify products that meet these standards.

Product testing is verified by SCS. They examine all VOC emissions test reports by independent testing laboratories for compliance with FloorScore and CHPS 01350 requirements and conduct periodic manufacturing plant inspections to review product formulas, processing and quality control. Click here to learn more about SCS standards.

The more rigorous FloorScore & CHPS 01350 standard is a requirement for many building projects and for the Environmental Quality Credit 4.3 in the USGBC's LEED building systems. This alternative credit is available in the LEED rating systems NC, CI, C&S, EB, Homes, Schools, & Healthcare (EQ 4). It is now standard in LEED v3-2009. For more information on LEED, visit usgbc.org.

To view a list of Mannington products that are certified to the FloorScore program, click here.

When we say that we are committed to doing the right thing, how do you know what we mean by the right thing? We turn to the International Organization of Standardization (ISO) for some clarity and measurable standards. ISO sets and maintains all kinds of standards for business and industry, and ISO-certified systems meet management standards that are recognized worldwide. For more information on ISO 14001, click here.

Environmental management systems specifically monitor actions that may affect the environment, to ensure that they are understood, planned, controlled and checked. This certification is a path of continual improvement through rigorously documented steps toward specific environmental goals. Certification (also called "registration") includes significant training and system auditing, so all those involved are aware of and can improve upon their actions.

For current status of our ISO activities, click here.

Mannington's Environmental Management System (EMS) was first third party certified to ISO 14001 in 2004 in New Jersey at our commercial tile and commercial inlaid sheet operations, in 2005 at our Georgia carpet operation, and in 2009 at our residential sheet operations in New Jersey and all successfully recertified since. Our Quality Management System (QMS) has been third party certified to ISO 9001 in our North Carolina laminate operation since 2003 and our New Jersey tile and inlaid sheet operation since 2004 and all successfully recertified ever since. The result is a highly organized and structured approach that ensures the efficient, effective management and continual improvement of our environmental and quality management systems. For current status of our ISO activities, click here.

Defining what is environmentally preferable is evolving. Mannington is actively involved with multiple standards that are helping to define environmental preferability in the marketplace. One is known as NSF/ANSI 140 Sustainability Assessment for Carpet. More information is available for your reference here. Another is known as NSF/ANSI 332 Sustainability Assessment for Resilient Floor Covering. Product certified to this standard are listed on this link.